Multicultural Film Series

Current

The multicultural film series brings university professors and other local professionals to the Sharon Public Library to discuss popular films featuring religious and cultural groups represented in Sharon. Speakers discuss the historical and cultural context of each film, and local community members share their personal experiences. A sampling of foods, prepared by local residents and restaurants, provide a gastronomic taste of the culture, and music from the featured culture often is performed by local musicians.

We welcome your ideas for films and speakers. The next program will be held in the fall of 2014.

Archive

The film program began with a grant from MassHumanities in 2009 and additional support from Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation.

Most Recent Feature:March 2012 SPN collaborated again this year with the library’s One Book, One Town Sharon Reads Together Program to show Persepolis, a French/American animated film, based on Marjane Satrapi’s autobiographic graphic novel of the same name about her experiences growing up in Iran during the Iranian Revolution. A local Sharon father and son of Iranian background spoke about the film, and samplings of Iranian foods were served. Over 40 people enjoyed an afternoon of thoughtful entertainment and discussion.

Previous Features: Winter 2009 The initial series of four films brought capacity crowds to the Sharon Public Library and featured professors from Brandeis University and UMass Boston. The Sharon Adult Center collaborated on the program.

Films from the first series are available at the Sharon Public Library and include:

Winter 2011 The success of the first series led to requests for additional films. A local resident and audience member in the first series, Yanni Pandelidis, volunteered to organize a Greek film, thus initiating the second series in 2011.

Rembetiko, a Greek film, about the Greek folk music by the same name, as it was shaped by Greece history in the first half of the 20th century. Members of Mr. Pandelidis’ band, KYMATA and TAXIMI, performed traditional Greek bouzouki music.

The Boys and Girl of County Claire, about the all-Ireland music competition and the clashing of traditional and modern Irish cultures. This film was presented in collaboration with the Sharon Public Library’s One Book, One Town Sharon Reads Together Program. Local resident, Kathleen Giuilday, an all-Ireland harp champion and member of Childsplay traditional Irish music band, played the Irish harp. Professor Tom O’Grady, Director of Irish Studies at UMass Boston, provided the background for the film.